International Youth Match Racing Regatta - Gilmour still beatable

Chris Steele lies equal second on points and is having a good regatta - Warren Jones International Youth Match Racing Regatta 2013

Bernie Kaaks

Warren Jones International Youth Match Racing Regatta 2013. David Gilmour’s unbeaten run finally came to an end this afternoon when his Royal Freshwater Bay club mate Tristan Brown took the honours in their match. The win underscores the fact that Gilmour can be beaten, but as all of the competitors have found so far, he always seems to have that little bit in reserve, so that even when he has been beaten off the start line, he has been able to find a way back into the contest and thoroughly deserves to be on the top of the leader board.

New Zealand’s Chris Steele had a good day today, winning his final match to compete round robin one and four of his five matches in round robin two. He has four more matches tomorrow. Tristan Brown joins Steele on 11 points, having enjoyed a mixed day. Having been beaten for the second time by Steve Thomas (this time by less than a second), he went on to inflict the first defeat on David Gilmour.

In the middle of the field, five teams are split by a mere three points, and with Tom Spithill just two points behind that, progression to the quarter finals is still open. Spithill and Malaysia’s Hazwan Hazim Dermawan were involved in a heavy collision during their pre-start battle. Spithill won the penalty arising from the incident, but both skippers were then penalised a full point for failing to avoid a collision. Dermawan’s boat finished with a puncture wound amidships, which was taped over to allow racing to continue.

Hazim Dermawan found it hard to adapt at this level.

Bernie Kaaks

Dermawan’s score went into negative territory, which was a shame because he went on to win his first match of the regatta, against Tim Coltman, a short time later, taking his scoreline back to zero. While it is fair to say that Dermawan has looked uncomfortable in the pre-starts, his team has showed plenty of potential on the course, so it was really just a matter of time before he brought up his first win.

Coltman trails Griffin in their last match

Bernie Kaaks

Steve Thomas and Luke Morrison also had a collision midway up the windward leg – a straight port and starboard incident which not only cost Thomas a penalty, but also wiped the Windex off his opponent’s mast. Morrison went on to win comfortably, with the penalty still in hand. Given their lack of match racing experience as skippers, these two have impressed with their ability to adapt to match racing at this level, and even the competition leaders can ill afford to take them for granted.

Forecast weather conditions for tomorrow indicate that there will be no sea breeze and winds will stay in the south east all day, which will probably mean lighter conditions, encouraging some more tight racing when the quarter finals begin later in the day.

Progress Points at the end of day two, with five races remaining to complete second round